Part Three, February 21 - May 1998
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2. An official should be close enough that he can stop potentially dangerous and illegal holds immediately. But not so close that he interferes with the action. This you learn through experience. If you get kicked in the face, you are probably too close.
3. Unless the headgear is cutting off breathing or is hindering wrestling, the referee should allow the match to continue until a fall occurs, the situation is over, the situation turns potentially dangerous, the top man does something illegal, or time runs out.
4. I always watch for the supporting points of both wrestlers when they are close to the out-of-bounds line. When feasible, I straddle the out-of-bounds line to get a better view of supporting points when indicating out-of-bounds.
March 11, 1998
Q: How far should a referee go in calling penalties in a State
Championship finals match for the six and under age-class? A first-year
wrestler was disqualified with only 12 seconds left in the match for
locking hands. Not once did he lace the fingers or grip the hands
together. This little guy was leading 12 to 5 at the time of the
disqualification.
Sheila Valentine
A: First, allow me to explain the "Locked Hands" Technical Violation. A
wrestler on top can only lock hands around the body in a pinning
situation. The Locked Hands" Technical Violation includes lacing hands,
grasping hands or overlaping hands and/or arms around the body. It is
also locking hands on the top when they are locked around two legs.
Note, one hand and/or arm beside the other hand and/or arm is NOT
considered locked hands.
As to your particular situation, that's certainly a tough way to
lose. If I were the official in such a match, I would make it a point to
explain the "dos and don'ts" to locking hands after penalizing him the
first time. Maybe the official in your situation did the same; I don't
know what led up to the disqualification.
However, since this was a championship match in a state youth
tournament, the official had no alternative but to call "locked hands"
when he saw it. There are no warnings for locked hands in the rulebook.
Great question, Sheila Valentine!
March 9, 1998
Q: Should a scorekeeper or timekeeper get involved in a verbal argument
with a coach?
A: The scorekeeper or timekeeper should only communicate with the match
official or assistant referee (if utilized). It would be very
unprofessional for a scorekeeper or timekeeper to argue with a coach.
He or she should bring a problem to the official's attention, who in
turn, will do all the talking to the coach. Note, the situation you
mentioned has been duly noted.
March 5, 1998
Situation: It is the third period and the match is tied. Earlier in
the match Wrestler A was called for stalling. For over a minute and 30
seconds into the third period, Wrestler B has been actively trying to
escape while Wrestler A seems content to ride out Wrestler B, taking the
match into overtime.
Then with approximately 10 seconds left in the match, Wrestler B
stands up, quickly turns (facing Wrestler A) and picks Wrestler A up.
Before Wrestler B can bring Wrestler A to the mat, the time runs out.
Question One: Should Wrestler B at least get an escape in this
situation since he has Wrestler A in the air?
Question Two: Shouldn't Wrestler B at least be awarded a point
(winning the match) for stalling since Wrestler A is up in the air not
attempting to take his opponent to the mat?
Note, the answers I am about to give you are by National Federation
interpretation over the years.
Answer to Question One: A wrestler must be in the rear standing
position (behind his opponent) in order to earn a reversal. NO
REVERSAL.
However, Wrestler B has lost control and Wrestler A would be awarded one point
for an escape.
Answer to Question Two: In the standing position, the top man shall be called for stalling if his hands are locked tightly around his opponent's body and he makes no attempt to break the bottom man to the mat. In the above situation, the top man is in the air, fighting to maintain control. NO STALLING SHOULD BE CALLED IN THIS POSITION.
Actually, Wrestler A, from the scenario you presented, should have been called for stalling early in the third period. Super, duper Question, Curious!
March 4, 1998
Q: What if there was an accidental head butt in a state championship
match and both wrestlers had to default due to their injuries?
Jenny
A: Great question, Jenny! You are not going to like the answer, and it
doesn't matter what the score is at the time of the injuries. There
would be no champion, only two runner-ups at that weight class for that
year. Just keep in mind--NO wrestler can win a match if he defaults due
to an injury caused by a legal hold or situation.
March 3, 1998
Q: The following are three questions I would like answered:
1) What is the difference between an escape and
reversal? Sometimes it seems very subtle.
2) What do you look for when determining takedowns at the
out-of-bounds area?
3) When trying to determine a fall, should an official put
his hand(s) under the wrestler's shoulder(s)?
Decked
A: Here are the answers to Decked's questions:
1. There must be control for a reversal to take take. If the
official believes that a wrestler has gained control either down on the
mat or the rear-standing position, a reversal would be awarded.
2. For a takedown to take place at the edge of a mat, the supporting
points of one wrestler must be in bounds. There is an exception,
however. If a wrestler initiates a takedown in bounds, ends the
takedown with only his feet in bounds on the mat, and at that precise
moment has control, a takedown would be awarded.
3. When looking for a pin, the referee should never place his hands
under the shoulders of the wrestler being pinned. His job is just to
see it and call the pin when it occurs.
Good Questions,
Decked!
March 2, 1998
Q: How do officials feel after officiating a tough match with close
calls?
Decked
A: Making close calls are very difficult situations for officials. All
the referees I know agonize over close calls. And it does not matter
what level of competition they are involved with. In fact, I know of
two excellent officials who unfortunately left the officiating ranks
because they blamed themselves for a wrestler losing. Yes, officiating
is a tough line of work!
Q: What are your thoughts on allowing ties in individual matches, say
"co-champions" at 103 pounds for states?
Decked
A: I am personally against it. I do not think too many truly
competitive athletes would relish the thought of sharing a championship
with anyone else. Anyhow, that's how I feel about draws for individual
matches. Two good questions, Decked!
Q: How is a false start that causes an injury handled in the rules?
L. Davis
A: Believe it or not, if you are injured by a false start, you are given
two minutes of "injury time" to take care of that injury. Should you
not be able to continue--YOU LOSE because a false start is a technical
violation, and does not come under "recovery time" like illegal holds,
unsportsmanlike conduct, or unnecessary roughness. Super question, Mr.
Davis!
Q: What's the call if Wrestler A intentionally injures Wrestler B out of
bounds?
-- L. Davis
A: The referee could either call unsportsmanlike conduct (one match
point for Wrestler B), unnecessary roughness (one match point for
Wrestler B), or even flagrant misconduct (disqualification of Wrestletr
A from match and total event), depending on the severity of the offense.
Thanks for the stimulating question, Mr. Davis!
Q: If Wrestler A picks up Wrestler B, and Wrestler B doesn't put his
hands out when being driven to the mat, what's the call?
Sarge
A: It depends how Wrestler B hits the mat. If he lands head first, it
could be interpreted as a slam. On the other hand, if he lands on his
side, it could be a takedown for Wrestler A. There is no definitive
answer to this question; it depends on each individual situation and
what the official sees. Interesting Question, Sarge!
February 25, 1998
Q: In reference to yesterday's double-injury default question, what if
one wrestler is winning, say 12-3 at the time? Would this change the
ruling?
Luchador
A: It doesn't matter what the score is when there is a double-injury
default. Anything can happen in a fully played-out match. Why just
this year I was officiating a championship match at a holiday
tournament. Wrestler A was winning by 14 points, one more point and the
match would have been over with a technical fall. Then Wrestler B
reversed Wresler A and pinned him. So you never know what can happen
before the six minutes are up. Thus, the double-injury default ruling
would not change no matter what the score is. Good point of emphasis,
Luchador!
Q: When does a pin occur?
F. McQullian
A: Of course, a fall in high school is awarded when a wrestler holds his
opponent's shoulders to the mat for 2 seconds. As far as the referee is
concerned, the fall is recorded in his mind first. (We think quicker
than we physically act.) In reference to end-of-the-period pins, if the
referee hears the buzzer or is tapped by the towel person at the precise
end of the period, he will know in his mind when the fall occurred.
However, when the crowd noise level is at fever-pitch, and there is
some confusion as to when time ran out. It is the timekeeper who lets
the official know the time he slapped the mat. (That's all the
timekeeper can go by. He doesn't know what an official is thinking.)
Then the official makes the final decision as to whether or not a fall
occurred on time. It's often very, very tough being an official.
Interesting question, Mr. McQuillan.
Q: There seems to be more aggressive takedown action in freestyle
matches. Do you think it would be a good idea (to make the action more
exciting) to award three match points for offensive takedowns and two
match points for defensive takedowns in high school?
Seville
A: This really is a philosophical question in nature, so here are my
thoughts on the topic. As a competitor, I had two very successful
offensive takedowns--a double-leg trip and a single leg takedown, with a
fake-to-one-side setup. On the other hand, I also had a highly
successful defensive takedown as a counter for double leg takedowns--a
standing pancake. Then there are wrestlers who "bleed" (or subtlely
manuever) their opponents into making takedown mistakes, gaining a
defensive takedown.
To me, a takedown is a takedown, and all takedowns should be worth
two points. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion, and could be argued
forever.
One final point. What I like about freestyle wrestling is the
emphasis on takedowns. I truly enjoy watching a "takedown artist" doing
his thing on the mats. Thanks for making me think, Seville.
February 24, 1998
Q: What is the ruling for locked hands when the bottom wrestler is
standing up?
Near Fall
A: When the bottom man is standing up, the top wrestler can not lock
hands until the bottom wrestler's entire weight is on his feet. Note,
if the bottom man's hands are still touching the mat, you can not lock
hands. Also note, when the top man brings his opponent back down to the
mat, he does have reaction time to release his locked hands. Excellent
question, Near Fall
Q: Is there too much emphasis on the takedown?
Back Points
A: Now this is only my personal opinion. First of all, I love to watch
a great takedown artist in action. I think it is more enjoyable to
witness than a fall. Second, one often can not score a pin until he
takes his opponent down. The fall may be the objective of wrestling,
but the takedown is the means to that end. Just my opinion, Back
Points.
I believe a takedown should always be worth two points. In 1965, PA had a rule where the first takedown was two points, and after that, only one point during the match. It was a complete failure, and the next year it was back to two points per takedown, never to be changed again.
February 23, 1998
Q: I have two questions:
1) Are knee pads special equipment and, if so, must they be
unadorned?
2) Must an official be registered in West Virginia in order to
officiate in high school, junior high, or middle school wrestling
matches?
Wrestling Ref
A: The answers to both questions are as follows:
1) Knee pads are special equipment and, as such, must be
unadorned.
2) A referee must be a registered official in West Virginia in
order to officiate at the high school, junior high, or middle
school level. Two very good questions, Wrestling Ref!
Q: What is the rule for crying out in pain multiple times during a
match?
Ted
A: First of all, it must be understood that a wrestler only has three
injury time-outs during a match; he is done on the fourth one. If he
cries out during certain (or imminent) near-fall situations, his
opponent gets the appropriate extra match points.
A referee could award a match point in near-fall situations for
unsportsmanlike conduct if he was 100-percent the wrestler was faking.
But as an experienced official, I would suggest staying away from that
one--unless you can prove you are a mind reader or the boy told you he
was faking. Good question, Ted.
Q: If two wrestlers in a West Virginia regional championship finals
match bumped heads accidently and neither could continue, what happens,
especially with states the next weekend?
Luchador
A: Since a wrestler can't be eliminated from a tournament due to an
injury default, the following would occur in the above situation:
1. Both wrestlers would receive runner-up points for the
match because no one won.
2. A coin would be flipped to determine who would be placed in
the champion's slot (for their region) at states, with the other placed
in the runner-up position for their regional. Though it is the luck of
the flip, it's the only fair way to solve the problem. Super question,
Luchador
Updated January 15, 1998